The Deep

Al-Rem, better known as “The Deep,” is a pocket of Dark Fluid in a far corner of the galaxy. Mostly void, the dark fluid causes negative pressure on anything attempting to venture through, making it almost impenetrable. Tendrils of firmament, “cuts,” crisscross the expanse, and are used as paths and refuge for anyone venturing in. Dark Fluid itself is a mysterious by-product of the early universe; it makes up the vast majority of space, but normally only interacts with ordinary matter and energy on a gravimetric level. The science of the ancients deduced it’s existence, and eventually found a way to harness dark energy and matter as power sources for FTL travel and quantum machinery. Little of The Deep is habitable, with only a handful of star systems located along the firmaments. Population centers are few and far between, although rumors persist of cults, lost civilizations, marauding barbarians, hidden rogue worlds, giant space-faring creatures, treasure hoards, and stealth fleets. How much credence to lend those rumors depends upon who you ask… Settlers hoping to colonize the far side of the galaxy often make use of cuts to reach their destination. The route has the advantages of being over twice as fast as going around The Deep, and bypassing the sometimes treacherous areas on the borders. These transients are most often known as Fluidic Pioneers, or simply Pioneers for short. Surrounding The Deep are a multitude of different societies, although these are ever-shifting. Empires control vast swaths of the border, while other areas are given up to corporate interests, especially those mining the vital dark fluid. Privateers and insurgents roam the star lanes, sometimes held in check, other times running rampant. The Civil Concordance’s governing AI, the Automata-based Ultra Magi, functions in large part due to energy and quantum properties pulled from The Deep. The most common route for travelers is through the Cullamek Cut, a wide firmament with some development throughout. While still dangerous, the Cullamek is the preferred thoroughfare thanks to its controlled entrance, resupply opportunities, and minimal natural hazards. All traffic entering the Cullamek on the near-side does so through Anzu’s Gate, a mechanized defense platform and ring station that straddles normal and fluidic space. Thanks to its positioning, the Gate is able to draw upon dark fluid to render itself nearly siege-proof, and armed with devastating novel weaponry. Trouble rarely comes to Anzu’s Gate, allowing it to serve most as a provisioner and toll collector. Anzu was an explorer who, legend states, was the first to navigate the Cullamek and unlock many of the secrets of The Deep. Over time, he attained venerated status, the Disciples of Anzu maintaining the Gate as a sacred shrine and place of pilgrimage. Under the oversight of a chief “Gatekeeper,” adherents believe Anzu’s spirit resides within The Deep, and that it is their solemn duty to protect the entrance from those with ill-intent. As such, a militant wing of Anzurians serves as a local defense force, known as the Gatekeeper’s Sword. Far within the depths of Al-Rem is a stalwart outpost, an ancient citadel: the Deep Terminus Garrison. The fortress, a remnant of a long-lost civilization, is perched at the end of a long stretch of firmament known as the Zumroh Spur. The Garrison currently houses the headquarters of The Rangers of the Deep, a private law enforcement agency dedicated to protecting travelers and inhabitants.